ORION INNOVATIONS PRIVATE COMPANY

Their core work

Orion Innovations is a Greek technology SME specializing in network security and 5G infrastructure software. They build components for virtualized network environments — including NFV-based security functions, service orchestration platforms, and AI-driven cybersecurity tools for SMEs. Their work spans the full stack from mobile broadband and vehicle communications to autonomous cyber-defense systems, consistently operating at the intersection of telecommunications and security.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Orion Innovations began (2015-2017) with foundational telecom infrastructure work — small cell coordination (SESAME) and NFV-based network security (SHIELD). From 2018 onward, their focus expanded significantly into 5G service delivery, vehicular communications, and AI-powered cybersecurity, reflecting the broader industry shift toward autonomous, software-defined network management. Their most recent project (PALANTIR, 2020) marks a clear pivot toward making cybersecurity accessible for smaller enterprises through AI and service-oriented architectures.

They are moving from building network infrastructure components toward delivering intelligent, automated security services — expect future work in AI-driven network protection and managed security for SMEs.

How they like to work

Orion Innovations operates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator, which is typical for a specialist SME contributing targeted technical components to larger research efforts. With 78 unique partners across 20 countries in just 6 projects, they join large, diverse consortia and appear comfortable integrating into complex multi-partner environments. This breadth of partnerships suggests they are adaptable collaborators who can plug into varied project structures without requiring a leadership seat.

Remarkably wide network for a small company: 78 unique partners across 20 countries built through 6 projects. Their reach extends well beyond Greece and Southern Europe into a genuinely pan-European (and EU-China, via 5G-DRIVE) collaboration footprint.

What sets them apart

Orion Innovations sits at a rare intersection: they understand both 5G telecommunications infrastructure and cybersecurity deeply enough to bridge the two domains. For consortium builders, this dual competency is valuable because securing next-generation networks requires exactly this combination. Their SME agility, combined with experience in both RIA and IA project types, means they can contribute to both fundamental research and closer-to-market innovation actions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 5G-DRIVE
  EU-China joint 5G trials project covering vehicle communications — demonstrates Orion's ability to operate in high-profile international collaborations beyond the EU.
• PALANTIR
  Their most recent and strategically significant project, focused on making AI-driven cybersecurity practical and affordable for SMEs and microenterprises.
• SHIELD
  Foundational project that established their NFV cybersecurity expertise with big data analytics, receiving EUR 344K — their second-largest grant.